Improvement in bustles



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE YV. YERBY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUSTLES.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 25,S6l, dated October 1S, 1359.

To (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. YERBY, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Ladies Hoop Skirt; and I hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters ofreference marked thereon.

Figure I represents a side View, and Fig. II a front view, of my improved ladys hoopskirt. Fig. III shows atop view of the same.

The nature of my invention consists in the combination, with the waist-binding, of a part corset provided with pockets on both sides, into which short springs which form the tournure or bustle fits, thereby preventing the same from swaying about. The size ot' the bustle or tournure, as well as the shape ofthe skirt, may be increased or diminished by means of changing those bustle-springs in a diterent set otf pockets.

a represents the waistband, stiffened in the back part, s, by small pieces of whalebone to tit the figure. On the forward end of the waistband part eorsetsn n are attached, provided with eyeholes for the purpose ot' lacing the same to make it iit perfectly to the figure. These corsets are provided with two or more sets of pockets, 2 3, each set varying in length and distance from the front of the corset. Into these pockets 2 the springs o are inserted, which form the bustle, and are heid by the same perfectly stiff. If the bustle or tournure requires to be increased, the springs o are withdrawn from the pockets 2 and inserted into the pockets 3, the ends of which, being farther from the end or middle of the corset, keep the springs o farther off. The remaining springs,whieh form the skirt, are attached and arranged in the usual manner. The

bands m, running from top to bottom, and

which fasten the different springs or hoops together, and which lie near the front, are not fastened to the springs o, which forni the bustle, to allow the same to be easily withdrawn from one pocket and inserted into another, as may be found necessary. p

g are tapes or cords, which start from the middle of the lower part of the skirt and pass upward around each side of the waistband to the back of the iigure. These tapes or cords are attached to the different springs or hoops in the usual manner, similar to the other bands, and are provided on the upper end with a buckle. By means of these bands or tapes the shape of the skirtcan be regulated, as by drawing the tapes faster together round the body the front part of the skirt will be drawn together and more confined, causing thereby the springs to be pushed backward as much as desired.

Instead of making two or more sets of pock ets in the side of the corsets for the purpose above described, one set of pockets only may be made, and thesprings, after being inserted in the same, be fastened by any means in the proper distance in the pockets, so as to give thereby the desired extent of bustle, which, in accordance with the nature of the fastening, may be easily changed if the size is to be increased or diminished.

I claim- The bustle, as described, in which the waist` band has a back piece, s, and a corset or part corset, a, in front, provided with one, two, or more sets of pockets, into which the springs of the bustle are inserted, the whole being` constructed and operated in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

GEORGE XY. YERBY.

Witnesses:

HENRY E. EOEDEE, J AMES W. EDGAR. 

